The Allies did not celebrate their victory over Nazi Germany for long. Soon after the end of the war they were separated by the Iron Curtain. The democratic and “progressive” West saw a new threat in the face of the “totalitarian” communist regime of the USSR.

Waiting for change

Following the results of World War II, the USSR finally became one of the superpowers. Our country had a high international status, which was emphasized by membership in the UN Security Council and the right of veto. The only competitor of the Soviet Union in the international political arena was another superpower - the United States of America. Insoluble ideological contradictions between the two world leaders made it impossible to hope for stable relations.

For many Western political elites, the radical changes that have occurred in Eastern Europe and some countries in the Asian region came as a real shock. The world was divided into two camps: democratic and socialist. The leaders of the two ideological systems of the USA and the USSR in the first post-war years did not yet understand the limits of each other’s tolerance, and therefore took a wait-and-see attitude.

Harry Truman, who succeeded Franklin Roosevelt as American President, advocated tough opposition to the USSR and communist forces. Almost from the first days of the presidency new chapter The White House began to review allied relations with the USSR - one of the fundamental elements of Roosevelt's policies. For Truman, it was fundamental to intervene in the post-war structure of the countries of Eastern Europe without taking into account the interests of the USSR, and if necessary, then from a position of strength.

The West acts

The first to break the calm was British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who instructed the chiefs of staff to assess the prospects for a military invasion of the USSR. Operation Unthinkable, scheduled for July 1, 1945, called for a lightning attack on the USSR to overthrow the communist government. However, the British military considered such an operation impossible.

Very soon the West acquired more effective means pressure on the USSR. On July 24, 1945, during a meeting at the Potsdam Conference, Truman hinted to Stalin about the American creation of an atomic bomb. “I casually remarked to Stalin that we had a new weapon of extraordinary destructive power,” Truman recalled. The American president felt that Stalin did not show much interest in this message. However, the Soviet leader understood everything and soon ordered Kurchatov to accelerate the development of his own nuclear weapons.

In April 1948, a plan developed by US Secretary of State George Marshall came into force, which, under certain conditions, envisaged economic recovery European countries. However, in addition to assistance, the Marshall Plan provided for the gradual ousting of communists from the power structures of Europe. Former US Vice President Henry Wallace condemned the Marshall Plan, calling it a tool cold war against Russia.

Communist threat

Immediately after the war in Eastern Europe, with the active assistance of the Soviet Union, a new politicized bloc of socialist commonwealth countries began to form: leftist forces came to power in Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia. Moreover, the communist movement has gained popularity in a number of countries Western Europe– Italy, France, Germany, Sweden.

In France, the likelihood of communists coming to power was as high as ever. This caused discontent even among European politicians who sympathized with the USSR. The leader of the French Resistance during the war, General de Gaulle, directly called the communists “separatists,” and the General Secretary of the French Section of the Workers’ International, Guy Mollet, told communist deputies in the National Assembly: “You are neither left nor right, you are from the East.”

The governments of England and the USA openly accused Stalin of attempting a communist coup in Greece and Turkey. Under the pretext of eliminating the communist threat from the USSR, $400 million was allocated to assist Greece and Turkey.

The countries of the Western bloc and the socialist camp have taken the path of ideological war. The stumbling block continued to be Germany, which the former allies, despite the objections of the USSR, proposed to divide. Then the Soviet Union was unexpectedly supported by French President Vincent Auriol. “I find this idea of ​​dividing Germany into two parts and using it as a weapon against the Soviets absurd and dangerous,” he said. However, this did not save Germany from the division of Germany in 1949 into the socialist GDR and the capitalist West Germany.

Cold War

Churchill's speech, which he delivered in March 1946 in Fulton, America, in the presence of Truman, can be called the starting point of the Cold War. Despite the flattering words addressed to Stalin several months ago, the British prime minister accused the USSR of creating the Iron Curtain, “tyranny” and “expansionist tendencies”, and called the communist parties of capitalist countries the “fifth column” of the Soviet Union.

Disagreements between the USSR and the West increasingly drew the opposing camps into a protracted ideological confrontation, which at any moment threatened to result in a real war. The creation of the NATO military-political bloc in 1949 brought the likelihood of an open clash closer.

On September 8, 1953, new US President Dwight Eisenhower wrote to Secretary of State Dulles regarding the Soviet problem: “Under present circumstances, we would have to consider whether it is not our duty to future generations to go to war at a favorable moment of our choosing.”

Nevertheless, it was during Eisenhower’s presidency that the United States somewhat softened its attitude towards the USSR. The American leader has more than once initiated joint negotiations, the parties have significantly moved closer in their positions on the German problem, and agreed to reduce nuclear weapons. However, after an American reconnaissance plane was shot down over Sverdlovsk in May 1960, all contacts ceased.

Personality cult

In February 1956, Khrushchev spoke at the 20th Congress of the CPSU condemning Stalin's personality cult. This event, unexpectedly for the Soviet government, hit the reputation of the Communist Party. Criticism against the USSR rained down from all sides. Thus, the Swedish Communist Party accused the USSR of hiding information from foreign communists, the CPSU Central Committee “generously shares it with bourgeois journalists.”

In many communist parties around the world, groups were created depending on the attitude towards Khrushchev’s report. Most often it was negative. Some said that the historical truth was distorted, others considered the report premature, and still others were completely disappointed in communist ideas. At the end of June 1956, a demonstration took place in Poznan, the participants of which carried slogans: “Freedom!”, “Bread!”, “God!”, “Down with Communism!”

On June 5, 1956, the American newspaper The New York Times responded to the resonant event by publishing full text Khrushchev's report. Historians believe that the material from the speech of the head of the USSR came to the West through the Polish communists.

I have been thinking for a long time about writing a short love story of the relations between Russia and France, but I am not at all a historian, and some people were ahead of me in this. Kommersant recently published a funny article on this topic. Here I give short version with pictures and photographs.
The story was written before 1990. So I'm waiting for your suggestions!)))

It all started 1000 years ago.
The daughter of Yaroslav the Wise, Anna, married Henry I in 1051. She became known as Anna of Russia. She brought the Gospel to France, on which everything French kings take the oath (according to legend). A monument to her was erected in the city of Senlis.

In 1573, Ivan the Terrible and Prince Henry of Anjou fought for the Polish throne. France won. But Henry and the Terrible’s son Fyodor Ioannovich were in correspondence.

In 1600, Godunov appointed Jacques Margeret as captain of the mercenaries. The Frenchman left behind a valuable work, “The State of the Russian Empire and the Grand Duchy of Moscow.”
In the 17th century, Russian ambassadors at French receptions demanded that the king rise from the throne, asking about the health of the Russian Tsar. While he justified himself by at least taking off his hat every time the monarch was mentioned.
Peter I eliminated this injustice. In 1717 he visited France in person. The giant simply conquered the French. Saint-Simon called him "great" and "illustrious." Fashionistas even came up with a costume “a la the Tsar”.

The carriage that Peter ordered in Paris.
In Russia, a passion for everything French awoke under Elizaveta Petrovna. It is said that her agents scoured Parisian fashion stores, hunting for hats and gloves. At the same time, a caricatured dandy “Petimeter” appeared, spouting Gallicisms, and a reader of French philosophers, a respected person in society. The queen was friends with Voltaire, Diderot, d’Alembert, everyone usually knows this from a school history course.

On the eve of the revolution, the empress proposed publishing the seditious “Encyclopedia” of revolutionaries, but then she herself tried to create an anti-French coalition. And Russian writers still went to Paris. N. Karamzin wrote: “I have fun and rejoice at the living picture of the greatest, most glorious city in the world, wonderful, unique in the diversity of its phenomena.”

Monument to N. Karamzin
A hundred years later, Alexander I entered Paris at the head of a victorious army. They say that since then Russia has ceased to treat France as a provincial, although French has deeply penetrated Russian soil, but besides France, English books and German philosophers have also become important.

Until the end of the 19th century, French literature represented the country on the Russian field. Georges Sand Stendhal, Balzac, Hugo, Flaubert, Zola, Goncourt. And Turgenev was mainly engaged in Russian literature in France. He was friends with both Merimee and Maupassant.

However, once in a message Napoleon III Nicholas I used in his letter the disparaging form “Mr. my friend” instead of the accepted “Mr. my brother,” which resulted in Crimean War.
The countries became closer again when, in 1891, Alexander III received the French squadron in Kronstadt and listened to the Marseillaise while standing.

In the early 1900s, Russian collectors began to become interested in impressionism and post-impressionism. In 1908, the magazine “Golden Fleece” organized an exhibition of them.
In 1906, the era of Diaghilev and the “Russian Seasons” in Paris began.

After the revolution, Paris becomes a city of dreams and a place of residence for Russian emigration. Merezhkovsky with Gippius, Balmont, Bunin, Boris Zaitsev, Ivan Shmelev, Georgy Ivanov with Irina Odoevtseva live here.

Merezhkovsky and Gippius in Paris
French literature is still loved in Russia, but interest in emigrants is not encouraged. Gradually, people in the USSR are also remembering the communists. Pablo Picasso joined the party in 1944, and in 1956 his exhibition opened in Leningrad. At its opening, the writer and journalist I. Ehrenburg utters a phrase that has become a catchphrase: “Comrades, you have been waiting for this exhibition for twenty-five years, now be patient for twenty-five minutes.”

Pablo and Olga
In the 60s, French culture became an increasingly popular household name. Films with Gerard Philippe, Yves Montand and Jean Marais, records with songs by Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel, Charles Aznavour, Joe Dassin are known in every decent family.

The USSR Ambassador to Great Britain I.M. Maisky and the Envoy of the Imperial Government of Abyssinia to Great Britain Belata Ayela Gabre, on behalf of their governments, exchanged notes on the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries. The notes also provide for the exchange of envoys.

Situation in Egypt

Wafd Party on Anglo-Egyptian relations

The appeal was adopted at a joint conference on March 31 - April 1, 1940 of the leadership of the Wafd party and the parliamentary faction of the Wafdists. This appeal reflected the demands of the Egyptian people, striving for the complete liberation of the country from British colonialism. Under threat fascist aggression the question of the immediate implementation of all the demands presented in the appeal was not raised. All that was required was agreement in principle to satisfy the first three points.

In exchange, the Wafd leadership promised to facilitate the fulfillment of Egypt's allied obligations under the 1936 treaty during the war. However, British circles opposed the implementation of the Wafd's new proposals. England did not respond to the appeal, and informally the British ambassador to Egypt pointed out to the leader of the Wafd Nahas Pasha that such a speech was untimely.

1. Al-Wafd al-Misri and the Wafd faction of parliament demand on behalf of the Egyptian people that the allied British government now announce that it will withdraw all British troops from Egyptian territories after the end of the war and peace between the warring countries. . and that their places will be taken by Egyptian military forces, so that in all other matters there remains an alliance between the parties...

2. In the final settlement (of the consequences of the war - Ed.), it is necessary that Egypt be a participant in it and that it actively participate in peace negotiations in order to protect its interests and realize its aspirations...

3. After the end of the peace negotiations, England and Egypt should enter into negotiations in which the full rights of Egypt in the Sudan will be recognized in the interests of all the inhabitants of the Nile Valley.

4. Regarding state of emergency, now announced in Egypt on the basis of an ally's demand..., then we demand that the ally completely renounce it and notify the Egyptian government of this refusal. It is known that leaving this provision gives the present government the opportunity to use it against the wishes of the people...

5. Internal affairs are rapidly evolving towards a crisis of public and private finances, national wealth is falling endlessly. This is facilitated by... military spending and gigantic military needs. We consider the obstacles to the export of cotton and the marketing of other agricultural products abroad as the reason for the decline in the price of Egyptian cotton to, at best, 20 rials, while it is sold in foreign markets, for example in Switzerland, at a price of at least 35 rials per kantar...

It is regrettable that in Egypt there are obstacles to the export of sufficient quantities of cotton to neutral countries, so that cotton is not allowed to be exported to them... except the quantity that was exported last year...

Establishment of diplomatic relations between the USSR and Egypt

Recently, Deputy people's commissar Foreign Affairs I.M. Maisky and the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt Mustafa Nahas Pasha, on behalf of their governments, exchanged messages, as a result of which, starting from August 26, 1943, diplomatic relations were established between both countries.

The agreement reached provides for the exchange of envoys in the near future.

The situation in Syria and Lebanon

French plans for Syria and Lebanon

(Charles de Gaulle, "War Memoirs")

In connection with the preparations for the entry of British and Free French troops into Syria and Lebanon at the beginning of 1941, the leaders of the Free French movement turned to the most prominent colonial figures of France with a request about the future of Syria and Lebanon. Below is the text of the request and the response of Admiral Muselier.

Memorandum from the Secretary of the Council of Defense of the Empire, Rene Cassin, to General Quatre, in Cairo; to Vice Admiral Muselier, in London... March 3, 1941

General de Gaulle would like to know the opinion of the members of the Defense Council as to what position the Free French should take in order to ensure the security of their communications necessary for the conduct of military operations against Germany, in the event that England and Turkey are forced to occupy all or part of the territory of the Levant countries, under the French mandate.

Should we, in such a case, protest against this kind of action?

Should we not interfere with this, limiting ourselves to a written statement reserving France's rights to these territories?

Shouldn't we, most likely, on behalf of France, join in the action, which, from our point of view, will have three tasks:

First, create in one of the parts French Empire necessary conditions to resume military action against a common enemy.

Third, help our allies...

If... the British were now determined to occupy these territories without the prior consent of the Free French, it would be necessary to immediately demand that the administration of these territories be carried out by the Free French, pending until victory would enable these countries to once again establish strong ties with the new France that lies in accordance with the promises of the British regarding the integrity of the French possessions.

In any case, it is already desirable to develop a plan for the occupation of Syria in cooperation with the British. This operation should automatically end with the establishment of a provisional government, subordinate to the head of the Free French and headed by one of his representatives.

Before proceeding with the occupation, Free France must make a statement about the future political structure of these countries. This statement must, on the one hand, take into account as much as possible the legitimate claims of the various nationalities of Syria and, on the other hand, vigorously defend our rights...

In accordance with the solemn promise, the mandate is to be abolished and replaced by a treaty of alliance which will limit our direct responsibility for the government of the country and give us the right to station land, naval and air forces at points from which we can carry out effective control over the entire country...

All of Syria is included in a single customs union, which will provide each state with a fair share of revenues.

Cooperation Agreement between Great Britain and Free France

In the Middle East

The text of the Anglo-French agreement is proposed, which formalized the recognition by England of the “special” political rights of France in relation to Syria and Lebanon. However, France was also forced to recognize for England some rights in the field of security, as well as the supreme command over the French units located in Syria and Lebanon. This agreement served as the basis for British intervention in the affairs of Syria and Lebanon.

Article 1. Middle East represents a single theater of military operations. Allied offensive and defensive operations in this theater of operations must be coordinated.

On the other hand, taking into account the special responsibilities of France in relation to the territory of the Levant states, Free France decided in this situation to use the French armed forces of the East, as well as Syrian and Lebanese units, primarily for the defense of the territory of these states.

Article 2. Any plan of military operations providing for the use of French armed forces jointly with the British or directly affecting the territories of the states of the Levant must be developed jointly by the British and French commands.

Considering that at present the British armed forces in the East predominate over the French armed forces, the development of military plans and the determination of the tasks of the French armed forces in general operations in the East rests with the British command. The British command assigns these tasks to free French troops under the authority of General de Gaulle. The same authority is granted to the commander of any formation subordinate to the commander of the British forces in the East, if the commander entrusts to this commander the leadership of operations in the territory of the Levant states or if free French armed forces are used in the operation ...

Article 3. English and French armed forces operating in the same zone of military operations are commanded, as a rule, by an English and French officer, depending on which troops are more numerous in a given zone...

Article 4. Whatever may be the proportional size and tasks of the British and French armed forces, territorial administration (the direction or control of the military authorities over public institutions, state security, gendarmerie, police, use of local resources, etc.) is carried out in Syria and Lebanon by the French authorities...

In enemy territory, the functions of territorial administration are distributed between the British and French authorities in proportion to the number of British and French armed forces in various parts of this territory.

FRANCE (French Republic), a state in Western Europe, washed in the west and north by Atlantic Ocean(Bay of Biscay and the English Channel), in the south - by the Mediterranean Sea (Bay of Lyon and the Ligurian Sea). Area 551 thousand km2. Population 57.7 million people, including over 93% French. Official language- French. Believers are predominantly Catholic (over 76%). The head of state is the president. The legislative body is a bicameral parliament (Senate and National Assembly). The capital is Paris. Administrative division: 22 districts, including 96 departments. The monetary unit is the franc.

Western and northern regions of France - plains (Paris Basin and others) and lowlands; in the center and in the east there are medium-high mountains (Massif Central, Vosges, Jura). In the southwest - the Pyrenees, in the southeast - the Alps (the highest point in France and Western Europe is Mount Mont Blanc, 4807 m). The climate is temperate maritime, transitional to continental in the east, and subtropical Mediterranean on the Mediterranean coast. Average temperatures in January are 1-8°C, in July 17-24°C; precipitation is 600-1000 mm per year, in the mountains in some places 2000 mm or more. Large rivers: Seine, Rhone, Loire, Garonne, in the east - part of the Rhine. About 27% of the territory is under forest (mostly broad-leaved, in the south - evergreen forests).

In ancient times, the territory of France was inhabited by Gauls (Celts), hence its ancient name Gaul. By the middle of the 1st century. BC conquered by Rome; from the end of the 5th century. AD - the main part of the Frankish state. The West Frankish Kingdom, formed by the Treaty of Verdun in 843, occupied approximately the territory of modern France; in the 10th century the country became known as France. Until the middle of the 12th century. dominated feudal fragmentation. In 1302, the first Estates General was convened, and the class monarchy. Absolutism strengthened after Religious wars 16th century, reached its apogee under Louis XIV. In the 15th - 17th centuries. French kings waged a long struggle with the Habsburgs. Eliminated the feudal-absolutist system French Revolution. A republic was established in 1792 (1st Republic). After the coup d'etat of the 18th Brumaire (1799), the dictatorship of Napoleon was established (proclaimed emperor in 1804; 1st Empire). The restoration period was based on the constitutional monarchy of Louis XVIII (1814/15 - 24) and Charles X (1824 - 30). As a result of the revolution of 1830, the financial aristocracy came to power. February Revolution 1848 established a republican system (2nd Republic), which replaced the rule of Napoleon III (1852 - 1870). During the period of the 3rd Republic (1870 - 1940), proclaimed after the capture of Napoleon III near Sedan during Franco-Prussian war 1870-71, in Paris on March 18, 1871, a powerful social protest movement took place, leading to the establishment of the Paris Commune (March - May 1871). In 1879 - 80 the Workers' Party was created. At the beginning of the 20th century. The Socialist Party of France (under the leadership of J. Guesde, P. Lafargue and others) and the French Socialist Party (under the leadership of J. Jaurès) were formed, which united in 1905 (the French section of the workers' international, SFIO). By the end of the 19th century. the formation of the French colonial empire. In January 1936, on the basis of a united front (the French Communist Party, founded in 1920, and the SFIO, since 1934), the Popular Front was created. The Popular Front governments banned fascist organizations and took measures to improve the situation of the working people. In 1938 the Popular Front collapsed. During World War II, France was occupied by German and Italian troops. The organizers of the Resistance Movement were the French Communist Party and the “Free France” movement led by Charles de Gaulle (from 1942 - “Fighting France”). By the end of 1944 France (as a result of the actions of troops anti-Hitler coalition and the Resistance Movement) was released. In 1958, the constitution of the 5th republic was adopted, expanding the rights of the executive branch. De Gaulle became president. By 1960, amid the collapse of the colonial system, most of the French colonies in Africa won independence. Mass unrest in 1968, caused by worsening economic and social contradictions, as well as a general strike, led to an acute state crisis. De Gaulle was forced to resign (1969). In 1981, F. Mitterrand was elected president.

France is a highly developed industrial-agrarian country, occupying one of the leading places in the world in terms of industrial production. Gross national product per capita is $22,320 per year. Extraction of iron and uranium ores, bauxite. The leading branches of the manufacturing industry are mechanical engineering, including automotive, electrical and electronic (TVs, washing machines and others), aviation, shipbuilding (tankers, sea ferries) and machine tool building. France is one of the world's largest producers of chemical and petrochemical products (including caustic soda, synthetic rubber, plastics, mineral fertilizers, pharmaceutical products and others), ferrous and non-ferrous (aluminum, lead and zinc) metals. French clothing, shoes, jewelry, perfumes and cosmetics, cognacs, and cheeses (about 400 varieties are produced) are very famous on the world market. France is one of Europe's largest producers of agricultural products and occupies one of the leading places in the world in the number of cattle, pigs, poultry and the production of milk, eggs, and meat. Home industry agriculture- livestock farming for meat and dairy production. Grain farming predominates in crop production; The main crops are wheat, barley, corn. Viticulture (the world's leading wine producer), vegetable growing and horticulture are developed; floriculture. Fishing and oyster farming. Export: engineering products, including transport equipment (about 14% of the value), cars (7%), agricultural and food products(17%; one of the leading European exporters), chemical goods and semi-finished products, etc. Foreign tourism.

Russian-French relations have a centuries-old history. Back in the middle of the 11th century, the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise, Anna, became the queen of France by marrying Henry I. And after his death, becoming regent for his son, the future king of France Philip I, she actually ruled France. The first Russian embassy in France appeared in 1717 after the decree of Peter I. This became the starting point for the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries.

The culmination of cooperation was the creation in late XIX century of military-political alliance. And the symbol friendly relations became the Pont Alexandre III, built in Paris.

The modern history of relations between Russia and France begins on October 28, 1924, from the day of the official establishment of diplomatic relations between the USSR and France.

On February 7, 1992, an agreement was signed between Russia and France, which confirmed the desire of both countries to develop “concerted actions based on trust, solidarity and cooperation.” Over the course of 10 years, the agreement between the two countries was supplemented by more than 70 agreements and protocols relating to various areas of cooperation between our countries.

In October-November 2000, President Putin made his first official visit to France. The agreements concluded during this visit confirmed the importance of cooperation between Russia and France in world politics. President Chirac made an official visit to Russia from July 1 to July 3, 2001, during which he visited St. Petersburg, Moscow and Samara. Conversations between Jacques Chirac and Vladimir Putin contributed to the adoption of a joint declaration on strategic stability. A new air services agreement was signed and additional agreement about cooperation in helping enterprises.

Trade turnover

France is in eighth place among the EU countries - Russia's main trading partners in terms of trade turnover. The crisis made its own adjustments, and at the end of 2009, Russian-French trade turnover decreased by 22.8% compared to 2008. As a result, it amounted to $3.3 billion. Among the countries of the European Union, the decline was more significant - 41%. Russian exports increased by 40.4% to $12.2 billion, while imports from France increased by 29.6% to $10 billion. France is one of Russia's strategic trade and economic partners. Trade turnover between our countries has almost tripled over the past five years. At the end of 2008, it increased by 35.3% and amounted to $22.2 billion. In addition, France has become one of the main investors for Russia: at the end of March 2009, French investments in the Russian economy amounted to $8.6 billion.

The largest commodity items of Russian exports to France are: oil and mineral fuels, chemical products, metals, wood, pulp and paper products. As well as machinery, equipment and vehicles. The structure of imports from France to Russia is formed by three product groups: machinery and equipment, chemical products, including pharmaceuticals and perfumes. And besides, food products and agricultural raw materials.

For the development of Russian exports, the main potential in industrial cooperation in the region high technology. Of the projects already being implemented in this area with the participation of enterprises from the two countries, the joint development of an engine based on NPO Saturn for the Russian regional aircraft Superjet 100 and the organization of the production of components for Airbus deserve attention.

Culture

First of all, the “cross” year will be a year of culture. Therefore, it is very symbolic that on January 25, 2010, in the Pleyel Hall, its grand opening was celebrated with a performance by the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra of St. Petersburg under the direction of Valery Gergiev. Numerous cultural cooperation projects will highlight this Franco-Russian Year of creativity. Choreographer Angelin Preljocaj will combine the Bolshoi Ballet and his dance troupe in a contemporary ballet, which will be staged first in Moscow and then in France, several weeks apart. The National Paris Opera and the Bolshoi Theater have planned a joint production of an opera with music by Philippe Fenelon based on the play by A.P. Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard". In Russia there will also be a tour of the Comedy Française in two capitals: Moscow and St. Petersburg. The Paris Opera Ballet Company will show "Paquita" in Novosibirsk. A traveling festival of street theaters will take place on board a ship sailing along the Volga. A special literary train of writers will travel along the Trans-Siberian Railway, which will introduce the Russian public to modern French literature throughout its route.

Many famous museums are preparing an interesting program of exhibitions that will be held in the regions. From March 2 to May 26, 2010, the Louvre will host an exhibition that will present several centuries of Russian art - from the 11th to the 17th centuries; more than 10 Russian museums will take part in its preparation. Among the French exhibitions there will be an exhibition at the Museum fine arts them. Pushkin in Moscow, dedicated to the School of Paris, and an exhibition at the State historical museum"Napoleon and Art". In St. Petersburg, an exhibition of Sèvres porcelain will be opened in the Hermitage, and an exhibition from the collection of Nancy museums will be seen in Yekaterinburg.

Education

According to the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Sergei Lavrov, both Russia and France benefit from projects in the field of joint education. According to him, the joint activities of Russia and France in this area are of serious importance not only for students, “Europe” and the whole world benefit from this activity. The Russian network Alliance Française, which has 11 associations, has gained particular popularity among those who want to learn French. The wave of its creation in Russia began in 2001, when, on the initiative of the French Ambassador, Mr. Blanchemaison, similar public associations appeared in Samara and Nizhny Novgorod. Then, in Vladivostok, the French Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Mr. Stanislas de Laboulaye, officially opened the 11th Russian Alliance Française.

As part of cooperation in the field higher education The French-Russian educational program is successfully operating on the basis of an agreement with two universities at once, one of which is French, the other is Russian. This program will be of interest to those who are focused on teaching in French and wishes to obtain a French diploma. Various Franco-Russian educational programs, currently known, represent a wide variety of academic training schemes, ranging from a module of study in French to included programs providing for the receipt of two state diplomas.

As part of the Year of France in Russia and Russia, the conference “Students and Scientific and Technological Progress” (in Novosibirsk) and the French-Russian forum “Students-Enterprises” (in St. Petersburg) will be held in France. In addition, a meeting of rectors and presidents of French and Russian higher educational institutions will take place in Paris and Porte de Versailles.

"Russia is the guest of honor at the European Elephant of Education."